leahy: i ask consent using the time allotted to the majority that i be able to use that as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: now, i have often said, mr. president, the senate is supposed to be, it can be and often is a conscience of the nation, but we became the conscience of the nation two weeks ago when senators, both republicans and democrats, voted overwhelmingly to pass the violence against women act and the trafficking victims protection reauthorization act. we made protecting these victims our top priority. we worked together, we had compromise, extensive negotiation, and then we said we're going to set aside partisanship, do what is best for the country, we came together. the majority of republican senators voted for our bill, as did every woman elected to this body and every single democratic senator and the two independents who caucus with the democrats. i mention this not to pat ourselves on the back, mr. president, but to say that in contrast to this action where republicans and democrats came together to protect one another in this